Activity-directed isolation of spasmolytic (anti-cholinergic) alkaloids from Brugmansia arborea (L.) Lagerheim

Abstract

This paper examined the effects of the extracts MeOH and H2O, chromatographic fractions and three pure alkaloids from Brugmansia arborea (L.) Lagerheim (Solanaceae) on the electrically- and acetylcholine (Ach)-induced contractions of isolated guinea-pig ileum. The results indicate that both MeOH and H2O extracts dose-dependently reduced the electrical contractions of guinea-pig ileum. Furthermore, the partially purified fractions 2 and 3 from MeOH extract and three pure compounds obtained from the fraction 2 of MeOH extract significantly and dose-dependently reduced the electrical and the Ach-induced contractions of the ileum. The chemical identification, performed by spectroscopic methods, indicate that the three active substances - atropine, scopolamine, norhyoscine - were tropane alkaloids. © Swets & Zeitlinger.